Method for installing slide fasteners

ABSTRACT

An article having a slide fastener closure and formed of sheet material secured to a slide fastener to define flaps extending over the slide fastener and meeting at a center line aligned with interengaging elements of the slide fastener, the sheet material either being separated along the center line or having a scored tear line therealong to facilitate separating. A method of installing the slide fastener includes moving a deforming member to engage the sheet material, which is positioned over the slide fastener, and force the sheet material and the slide fastener against an anvil, the deforming member carrying spaced sealing protrusions securing the sheet material to the tape of the slide fastener and a centrally disposed scoring protrusion forming the scored tear line. Apparatus for installing the slide fastener includes the anvil, which has an elongate recess therein for positioning the slide fastener, and the deforming member.

Van Amburg Jan. 7, 1975 METHOD FOR INSTALLING SLIDE FASTENERS Inventor:William F. Van Amburg, Meadville,

Assignee: Textron Inc., Providence, R.1.

Filed: Mar. 20, 1973 Appl. No.: 343,059

US. Cl. 156/66, 24/205 R, 24/205.l5 R, 24/205.16 R, 36/50, 156/73,l56/93,

156/251, 156/268, 256/274, 161/48, 161/50 Int. Cl A41h 37/06 Field ofSearch 24/205 R, 205.16 R; 156/66, 73, 274, 93, 251, 268; 36/50;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Winterhalter 24/205.16 R Zobel156/66 Wahl 156/66 X Primary ExaminerEdward G. Whitby [57] ABSTRACT Anarticle having a slide fastener closure and formed of sheet materialsecured to a slide fastener to define flaps extending over the slidefastener and meeting at a center line aligned with interengagingelements of the slide fastener, the sheet material either beingseparated along the center line or having a scored tear line therealongto facilitate separating. A method of installing the slide fastenerincludes moving a deforming member to engage the sheet material, whichis positioned over the slide fastener, and force the sheet material andthe slide fastener against an anvil, the de forming member carryingspaced sealing protrusions securing the sheet material to the tape ofthe slide fastener and a centrally disposed scoring protrusion formingthe scored tear line. Apparatus for installing the slide fastenerincludes the anvil, which has an elongate recess therein for positioningthe slide fastener, and the deforming member.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIED 3,859,150

sum 10F 2 METHOD FOR INSTALLING SLIDE FASTENERS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains toslide fasteners and, more particularly, to an article formed of sheetmate rial having a slide fastener closure and method and apparatus forinstalling the slide fastener.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Articles formed of sheet material andhaving slide fastener closures have, in the past, been cut or severedprior to the installation of the slide fasteners therein and, therefore,have required precise alignment of the slide fastener with the openingformed by the cut. Articles formed of heat bondable sheet material, suchas boots and the like, are desirably produced with a minimum of manuallabor and in as simple a manner as possible in that the bondingcharacteristics of the sheet material permit portions ofthe article tobe secured together by heat sealing to facilitate automatic manufacture.Thus, the cutting or severing of the sheet material prior toinstallation of the slide fastener is particularly undesirable in themanufacture of articles of heat bondable material not only due to theprecision required for alignment of the slide fastener with the openingformed by the cut but further due to the additional'cutting operationrequired, which cutting operation is normally performed by hand and addsundesirable cost and time to the manufacture of such articles.

In the manufacture of boots and the like, the sheet material is normallycut to installation of the slide fas tener, as exemplified by US. Pat.Nos. 1,739,612, 1,834,551, 1,834,582 and 2,287,878; and, since boots areconventionally formed of heat bondable sheet material, particularlyslush molded boots, prior art methods of manufacturing boots .havesuffered from the above-mentioned disadvantages attendant to cutting ofthe sheet material prior to installation of the slide fasteners.Furthermore, conventionally manufactured boots have the disadvantagethat the slide fasteners are exposed to mud, moisture and abrasion fromthe rough conditions to which boots are subjected and, therefore, sufferfrom reduced operational reliability. Attempts to install the slidefasteners before cutting of the sheet material have not providedacceptable results in that, in the past, such prior installation ofslide fasteners has left the slide fasteners exposed; and therefore, theslide fasteners have suffered from increased wear and decreasedoperational reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally summarizedin a method of installing a slide fastener on sheet material includingthe steps of positioning the slide fastener and the sheet materialbetween an anvil and a deforming member carrying spaced sealingprotrusions and a scoring protrusion centrally disposed between thespaced sealing protrusions; and moving the deforming member relative tothe anvil to engage the sheet material and compress the sheet materialand the slide fastener between the anvil and the deforming member suchthat the sealing protrusions secure the slide fastener to the sheetmaterial and the scoring protrusion forms a tear line in the sheetmaterial along the slide fastener. The present invention is furthergenerally summarized in apparatus for installing a slide fastener onsheet material comprising support means for supporting the slidefastener and the sheet material in superposed relation; and deformingmeans aligned with the support means and movable relative to the supportmeans to compress the slide fastener and the sheet material, thedeforming means carrying sealing protrusion means for securing the slidefastener to the sheet material and scoring protrusion means for forminga weakened tear line in the sheet material over the slide fastener. Thearticle having a slide fastener closure according to the presentinvention is generally summarized as including a slide fastener havinginterengaging means centrally disposed therealong; and a sheet materialsecured to the slide fastener to define flaps extending over the slidefastener and meeting at a center line aligned with the interengagingmeans, the sheet material being weakened along the center line to form afrangible tear line.

A primary object of the present invention is to overcome theabove-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art by installing a slidefastener on sheet material without requiring a preliminary cutting stepto form an article of sheet material having a slide fastener closurewith the sheet material defining flaps extending over the slide fastenerand meeting at a frangible center tear line aligned with theinterengaging elements of the slide fastener.

Another object of the present invention is to install a slide fasteneron sheet material without first cutting the sheet material to form anopening to be closed by the slide fastener.

A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus forinstalling a slide fastener on sheet material and simultaneously forminga line for separating the sheet material.

The present invention has an additional object in forming an articlehaving a slide fastener closure with a tear line in sheet materialcovering the slide fastener, the tear line being weakened to facilitateseparating the sheet material by breaking the sheet material open alongthe tear line.

Yet another object of the present invention is to eliminate a separatecutting operation in the production of an article having a slidefastener closure.

A further object of the present invention is to construct apparatus forproducing an article having a slide fastener closure with a tear line insheet material covering the slide fastener.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art arethat no separate cutting operation is required, precise alignment of theslide fastener for installation on the sheet material is obviated,production time and cost are reduced, and the sheet material need not beopened along the tear line until ultimate use of the article.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the preferred embodimenttaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a broken perspective of anarticle having a slide fastener closure according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded section of apparatus according to the presentinvention prior to installation of the slide fastener.

FIG. 3 is a section of the apparatus of FIG. 2 as the slide fastener isinstalled.

FIG. 4 is a section of the article of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An article 10 having a slidefastener closure according to the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1 and is formed basically of a sheet of heat bondable material 12,such as vinyl and the like utilized to form boots and similar articles,and a slide fastener 14 sandwiched between the sheet material 12 and astrip of heat bondable material 16 acting as a shield orliner for theslide fastener. The slide fastener 14 may be of any suitableconstruction and, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, conventionally is formedof a pair of tapes l8 and 20, each of which carries interengagingelements 22 along its inner edge, and a slider 24 movable along theinterengaging elements to control interlocking thereof.

The sheet material 12 has an aperture 26 therein of a size toaccommodate the slider 24 and positioned adjacent top stops, not shown,of the slide fastener to receive the slider when the slide fastener 14is closed. The sheet material 12, slide fastener 14 and liner strip 16are secured together along a pair of spaced bonding tracks 28 and 30which can be joined at a rounded end 31 adjacent the closed end of theslide fastener to have a U-shaped configuration. The bonding tracks 28and 30 are each formed of a pair of elongate recesses in the sheetmaterial 12 as best shown in FIG. 4. The liner strip 16 can be vinyl orthe like; so, if desired, the liner strip 16 can be a fabric such asfelt stitched to the article 10.

The sheet material 12 covering the slide fastener 14 forms a pair offlaps 32 and 34 extending from bonding tracks 28 and 30, respectively,and meeting at a center line 36 aligned with the interengaging elements22 of the slide fastener. Center line 36 is a weakened elongateindentation in sheet material 12 forming a frangible tear line from thetop of the article 10 through the aperture 26 and along theinterengaging elements 22 to the closed end of the slide fastener 14.The sheet material can be easily separated along the tear line 36 toform an opening for the article 10 as illustrated at 38 in FIG. 1.

Apparatus for installing the slide fastener 14 on the sheet material 12is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and includes a support member or anvil40 having an elongate positioning or locating recess 42 formed therein,recess 42 having upright side walls 44 and downwardly sloping surfaces46 connecting the side walls 44 with a central channel 48. The width ofrecess 42 between side walls 44 corresponds substantially to the widthof slide fastener 12 and liner strip 16, and channel 48 is ofa size toreceive the interengaging elements 22 of the slide fastener. An elongatedeforming member 50 is disposed above anvil 40 centrally aligned withrecess 42 and carries spaced sealing protrusions 52 and 54, each ofwhich is formed of a pair of flat teeth having surfaces inclined tocorrespond with the incline of sloping surfaces 46 of recess 42 to formthe double-recess bonding tracks 28 and'30. The sealing protrusions 52and 54 can be joined to formed rounded end 31 for the bonding tracks. Anotch 56 is centrally disposed between sealing protrusions 52 and 54 toreceive and adjustably position a scoring protrusion 58 having adownwardly depending acute angled edge. The edge of scoring protrusion58 can define a continuous straight line or a series of alternatelyextended and relieved portions, not shown, to form a tear line having aseries of alternating relatively weaker and stronger portions. Suitableapparatus for controlling relative movement between the anvil 40 and thedeforming member and for positioning the sheet material 12, slidefastener 14 and liner strip 16 between the anvil and the deformingmember is well known and is not shown in the drawings or describedherein for the sake of brevity.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, the slidefastener 14 and the sheet material 12, and the liner strip 16 ifdesired,are positioned in superposed relation between the anvil 40 and thedeforming member 50, and the deforming member 50 is moved relative tothe anvil 40 to engage the sheet material 12 and compress the sheetmaterial and the slide fastener between the anvil and the deformingmember to form bonding tracks 28 and 30 and central tear line 36. Whilethe sheet material 12, slide fastener 14 and liner strip 16 areillustrated in spaced relation in FIG. 2, in practice the liner strip 16will be supported in recess 42 of the anvil 40 with the slide fastenerprotrusion overlying the same while the sheet material 12 is placed flaton the anvil 40 covering the recess 42. The sealing protrusions 52 and54 are spaced so as to be received in recess 42, and scoring protrusion58 extends below the sealing protrusions such that when the deformingmember 50 is moved to compress the sheet material, the slide fastenerand the liner strip, as shown in FIG. 3, the sealing protrusions 52 and54 cooperate with sloping surfaces 46 to form bonding tracks 28 and 30,respectively. Interengaging elements 22 are received in channel 48, andscoring protrustion 58 substantially weakens the sheet material 12 alongcenter line 36 directly above the interengaging elements to form thetear line. As best shown in FIG. 4, the tear line 36 is weakened notonly from scoring along its outer surface by protrusion 58 but alsoalong its inner surface due to contact with the interengaging elements22.

The bonding process uses heat to secure the tapes l8 and 20 of the slidefastener and the liner strip 16 to the sheet material 12; however, anysuitable bonding energy can be utilized, such as ultrasonic vibrations.

The heat generating system may be of the dielectric type wherein heat isgenerated in a high resistance dielectric having low resistance metalelectrodes at either end, with the dielectric formed of the componentsof the article 10 and the electrodes formed by the deforming member 50and the anvil 40 such that heat is generated by the deforming member andapplied to the sheet material.

Simultaneous with the depressing of the sheet material 12 into therecess 42 and the compression of the sheet material between the sealingprotrusions 52 and 54 and the sloping surfaces 46 a compressive force isapplied to the sheet material by the scoring protrusion 58 which hasbeen pre-set in a fixed position in the notch 56 in accordance with thethicknesses, sizes and shapes of the liner strip 16, the slide fastener14 and the sheet material 12. The compressive force is applied in astraight line which is well defineddue to the sharp angle forming theedge of scoring protrusion 58 applying the force. During application offorce from the scoring protrusion 58, the interengaging elements 22 ofthe slide fastener and the liner strip 16 are depressed downward againstthe bottom of the channel 48 in the locating recess 42. Theinterengaging elements 22 are thus firmly supported and act as an anvilfor the scoring protrusion 58 during the formation of the tear line 36.

After heat has been applied for a suitable time to effect a good bond,the deforming member 50 is moved away from the anvil 40, and sheetmaterial 12 will resume its former flat shape due to the presence oflocat ing recess 42 which is shaped to compensate for the thicknesses ofthe components placed therein.

In the event that a heat bondable liner strip is not used in the article10, a fabric liner may be fastened around the slide fastener after theslide fastener has been secured to the sheet material. The fabric linermay be fastened by stitching, using single needle or double needlesewing machines having blades mounted on the throat plate of the sewingmachine and trailing the sewing needles for slitting the fabric liner asit is being stitch fastened.

After the installation of the slide fastener has been completed, thetear line 36 may be readily severed or broken open by merely inserting afinger on any suitable implement in the aperture 26 in the sheetmaterial 12 and applying a slight lifting force to the underside of thetear line 36 while moving the finger or implement along the tear line.However, when the installed slide fastener has a slider 24, the slightupward force required to break open the tear line may be applied by thefirst use of the slider after the bonding process has been completed.The tear line 36 may remain intact until all remaining fabricationprocesses have been completed on the sheet material 12 to form it into agarment, such as a boot or the like; and, thereafter, such as during aninspection operation of the finished product, the tear line may finallybe opened as discussed above.

The present invention has a number of distinct advantages, the mostobvious advantage being the elimination of the time-consuming step ofcutting sheet material which is to have a slide fastener installedthereon. The elimination of this cutting operation results in stilladditional time saved during fabrication by eliminating alignment oftheslide fastener to coincide with the preliminary cut in the sheetmaterial before effecting the bonding operation. In addition, the use ofthe locating recess 42 with channel 48 at the bottom thereof enables thesheet material to retain a flat and even appearance after the slidefastener has been installed thereon as shown in FIG. 4 thereby resultingin a more commercially desirable product.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. A method ofinstalling a slide fastener on sheet material comprisingthe steps of positioning the slide fastener and the sheet materialbetween an anvil and a deforming member carrying spaced sealingprotrusions and a scoring protrusion centrally disposed between thespaced sealing protrusions,

moving the deforming member relative to the anvil to engage the sheetmaterial and compress the sheet material and the slide fastener betweenthe anvil and the deforming member, and

securing the slide fastener to the sheet material between the anvil andthe sealing protrusions of the deforming member as the sealingprotrusions engage the sheet material during the moving of the deformingmember relative to the anvil while at the same time forming a tear linealong the sheet material between the sealing protrusions of thedeforming member as the scoring protrusion of the deforming memberengages the sheet material during the moving of the deforming memberrelative to the anvil.

2. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe sheet material is a heat bondable type and said step of moving thedeforming member includes applying heat to the sheet material from thedeforming member to heat bond the slide fastener to the sheet material.

3. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid positioning step includes positioning a liner strip of heatbondable material on a side of the slide fastener opposite the sheetmaterial, and wherein siad step of moving the deforming member includesheat bonding the liner strip and the slide fastener to the sheetmaterial.

4. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 andfurther comprising the step of applying a force to move the sheetmaterial away from the slide fastener and break the-sheet material openalong the tear line.

5. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 andfurther comprising the steps of stitching the liner strip around theslide fastener and slitting the liner strip during stitching.

6. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 1 andfurhter comprising the step of separating the sheet material along thetear line.

7. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 6 whereinsaid separating step includes applying a force to move the sheetmaterial away from the slide fastener and break the sheet material openalong the tear line.

8. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 6 whereinthe slide fastener includes a slider and wherein said separating stepincludes moving the slider to open the slide fastener and apply a forceto move the sheet material away from the slide fastener and break openthe sheet material along the tear line.

9. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 6 whereinsaid positioning step includes positioning a liner strip of heatbondable material on a side of the slide fastener opposite the sheetmaterial, and wherein said step of moving the deforming member includesheat bonding the liner strip and the slide fastener to the sheetmaterial.

l= =l =l

1. A method of installing a slide fastener on sheet material comprisingthe steps of positioning the slide fastener and the sheet materialbetween an anvil and a deforming member carrying spaced sealingprotrusions and a scoring protrusion centrally disposed between thespaced sealing protrusions, moving the deforming member relative to theanvil to engage the sheet material and compress the sheet material andthe slide fastener between the anvil and the deforming member, andsecuring the slide fastener to the sheet material between the anvil andthe sealing protrusions of the deforming member as the sealingprotrusions engage the sheet material during the moving of the deformingmember relative to the anvil while at the same time forming a tear linealong the sheet material between the sealing protrusions of thedeforming member as the scoring protrusion of the deforming memberengages the sheet material during the moving of the deforming memberrelative to the anvil.
 2. A method of installing a slide fastener asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the sheet material is a heat bondable typeand said step of moving the deforming member includes applying heat tothe sheet material from the deforming member to heat bond the slidefastener to the sheet material.
 3. A method of installing a slidefastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said positioning step includespositioning a liner strip of heat bondable material on a side of theslide fastener opposite the sheet material, and wherein siad step ofmoving the deforming member includes heat bonding the liner strip andthe slide fastener to the sheet material.
 4. A method of installing aslide fastener as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising the step ofapplying a force to move the sheet material away from the slide fastenerand break the sheet material open along the tear line.
 5. A method ofinstalling a slide fastener as claimed in claim 3 and further comprisingthe steps of stitching the liner stRip around the slide fastener andslitting the liner strip during stitching.
 6. A method of installing aslide fastener as claimed in claim 1 and furhter comprising the step ofseparating the sheet material along the tear line.
 7. A method ofinstalling a slide fastener as claimed in claim 6 wherein saidseparating step includes applying a force to move the sheet materialaway from the slide fastener and break the sheet material open along thetear line.
 8. A method of installing a slide fastener as claimed inclaim 6 wherein the slide fastener includes a slider and wherein saidseparating step includes moving the slider to open the slide fastenerand apply a force to move the sheet material away from the slidefastener and break open the sheet material along the tear line.
 9. Amethod of installing a slide fastener as claimed in claim 6 wherein saidpositioning step includes positioning a liner strip of heat bondablematerial on a side of the slide fastener opposite the sheet material,and wherein said step of moving the deforming member includes heatbonding the liner strip and the slide fastener to the sheet material.